Tool holder



Nov. 8, 1938.

T. TIEFENBACHER TOOL HOLDER Filed Aug. 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQA, Thomas B.Tiefenbacher [HT/EMMA,

1938- T. B. TIEFENBACHER 2,136,091

TOOL HOLDER Filed Aug. 24, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR y Thomas Bliefgnbuc er Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT O FF I CE '7 Claims.

This invention has for its general object the production of a tool-holder or tool-post for employment, for instance, in a lathe and which shall v be adapted to firmly and rigidly clamp a boring tool in operative-and working position therein. Any suitable type of tool and any conventional type of lathe or other machine may be employed in conjunction with the invention.

The principal object of the invention is the production of a tool-holder or tool-post of the above character, the main body of which shall comprise an ordinary L-bar or right-angled bar of any standard size and construction.

Further objects of the invention are the production of a tool-holder or tool-post which shall comprise few parts andwhich may be economically constructedand furthermore which shall be so constructed asto adapt it-to hold and firmly clamp tools of various sizes and diameters and to retain firmly said toolsin perfect and accurate horizontal position when in use. To the above ends my invention consists in the novel tool-holder or tool-post and-parts thereof hereinafter more particularly described and then specified in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in -which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of--my improved tool-holder or tool-post looking at the forward or front portion thereof and showing it mounted eitheron the carriage or the cross-slide carried by said carriage or on an upper-slide mounted on the cross-slide of a conventional type of lathe.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear or back of said tool-holder or post.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the clamp-ing portion of the device which is adapted to be detachably attached to the body portion of said 40 holder or post.

Fig. 4.- is a modification of the invention, its construction permitting it to be. adapted for heavy-duty work and which possesses strength appreciably greater than the device of the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear or back of the tool-holder orpost of the modification illustrated in Fig. 4 and,

Fig. 6 is a perspective, fragmentary view of the clampand associated parts of the modified construction of the device.

Referring in detail to the accomanying drawmgs:

The reference numeral l0 indicates a portion 5510f a carriage, or. of a. QrQss-slide carried by a carriage, or .of an upper or compound slide carried by the cross-slide, all forany conventional form of lathe forming no part of my invention and which element I may term generically as a support. slot II which slidably receives the head (not shown)- of a bolt l 2 carrying a washer l3 and receiving a nut l i, the shank of said bolt passing through a slot 15 (not shownin Fig. 1 but shown in Fig. 4) with which the horizontal leg I5 ofa conventional L-bar or right-angled bar of standard size and construction and forming the body of the holder is provided, the vertical member of said body being indicated at [6.

The vertical member N5 .of the body of the holder is provided adjacent an end thereof with a slot 11, as indicated, the opposite side of which I vertical membermay be .similarly slotted, if so desired, and as is obvious. The opposite faces of said Vertical member l6 of the body are pro-y vided with grooves IB and I9 respectively forming shouldered guideways in alignment with each other and the vertical member I6 is also slotted, preferably centrally thereof, and as indicated at 20, said slot being squared and intersecting said; grooves l8 and I9 as illustrated.

The clamp of thetool-holder comprises an inner clamping plate 2|, an outer clamping plate 22 and. an intermediate clamping plate 23. The outer clamping plate 22 is provided with a squared body 24 extending laterally therefrom and which is preferably integral with said plate, said body 24 being provided with a bore or rounded opening 25 for receiving the tool to be clamped. A rounded groove 26 or a groove of;v

any other configuration merging with the bore 25 is also provided in the plate 22. The squared body 24 of said plate 22 has a squared member 21 extending therefrom, and preferably integral therewith, and terminating in the rounded screwm threaded shank 28. The squared body 24 of said plate 22 and the squared extension 21 are adapted to interfit with and to be slidably received by the slot 20 in the verti-calmember it of the clamp and; italso interfits with the vertically extend-. ing opposite walls of the shouldered grooves I8 and 19. A nut.29 is also provided to be screwed on, the screw-threaded shank 28, the inner end of said nut being counterbored as at 30 so that the inner end of said nut will move unobstructedly; over the squared extension 21 when the nut is screwed home.

The inner clamping plate 2| is provided with I a. squared opening 3| for receiving the screwthreadednshanknn and the extension}! of the,-;

Said support is provided with a T- outer clamping plate with which extension it interfits whereby relative rotation of one member with respect to the other is prevented. A tightening of the nut 29 against the fiat face of said plate 2| will result in the three members comprising the clamp being drawn together.

The intermediate clamping plate 23 is provided with a V-groove 32 on one of its faces adapted to co-operate with the rounded groove 26 in the clamping plate 22 in order to firmly grip the tool to be clamped when the parts have been forced into clamping position by screwing the nut 29 tightly on the screw-threaded shank 28.

plate 23 is rounded as at 33 so that, when in lower position, it will interfit with the rounded wall forming the connection between the horizontal member 15 and vertical member" I 6 of the body of the clamp which rounded wall is inherently present in standard forms of L-bars. The intermediate clamping plate 23 is also provided with a squared extension or lug 34 adapted to slidably interfit with either of the shouldered guideways i8 and I9 so that the plate 22 with its connected elements 2:3, 2'? and 28 and carrying the intermediate plate 23, may be mounted at will on either side of the vertical member l6 of the body of the tool-holder.

It will be understood that the inner clamping plate 2! is always mounted on the side of said vertical member N5 of the body of the toolholder opposite tothe side on which the clamping plates 22 and 23 are mounted when the parts are in proper and clamping position. The intermediate clamping plate 23 is provided with screwthreaded openings 35 either of which is adapted to register with the slot H in the'vertical member it depending on which side of the tool-holder the intermediate plate 23 is mounted. The head 36 of a screw is adapted to span the slot I1 and its shank 37 extends loosely through said slot and is screwed through the threaded opening 35 in plate 23 to hold the parts in properly adjusted vertical position before they are tightened into clamping position by means of the nut 29 and before insertion of the tool in the holder;

In operation, it will be understood that all three of the clamping members are movable in unison with the outer clamping plate 22, that is, the integral parts thereof comprising members 24 and 21, carrying the intermediate clamping plate 23 and outer clamping plate 2| respectively. When using the device, the proper vertical elevation of the clamp per se is first determined and the parts thereof initially are held in that desired position by means of the screw 36 which, when tightened, clamps the intermediate plate 23 against the face of the vertical member is of the body of the holder, the outer clamping'plate 22 and the inner clamping plate 2| being movable with said intermediate plate, as is obvious, so that all three of the clamping plates will bear the same relative position to one another irrespective of the final vertical position of the said plates which has first been determined and found necessary for the Work to be performed.

In operation, the tool (shown in'dotted lines) and which I have designated as 38 is inserted through the bore in proper longitudinal position with respect thereto and the nut 29 is thereupon tightened on the screw-threaded shank 28. This results in a very tight clamping of the tool in the holder due to the co-operative clamping action of the plates 21,22, 23 as well as the cooperative clamping action of the rounded groove The lower side or edge of the intermediate clamping 26 in the plate 22 and the V-groove 32 in the intermediate clamping plate 23 which grooves engage with a clamping action against the surfaces of said clamping tool 38.

It will be understood that in some cases I may modify the constructions of the intermediate clamping plate 23 and the vertical member [6 of the body of the tool-holder by substituting squared lugs or projections for the grooves l8 and IS in the vertical member [6 and substituting a groove in the intermediate plate 23 for the projection or lug 34 with which it is now provided.

In this case the projection on the vertical member [6 would enter and slidably interfit with the groove in the intermediate plate member 23.

In principle, the operation of the apparatus of the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 inclu- ,sive is very similar to that of the preferred form of the invention. The construction of the modified device, however, is superior in strength to that of the preferred form of device so that it a (the modified form) is better adapted for use in heavy-duty work.

In the modification, the vertical member I 6 of the tool-holder is provided with two slots 39 and 39 for the reception of screw-threaded bolts 40, each of which is provided with a squared body 4i integral therewith and having a bore or rounded opening 42 for the reception of the tool 38. Each of said heads 4| is provided with an outer clamping plate 43. The heads '41 are adapted to enter and interfit with squared slots 44 in an intermediate clamping plate 45 and are also adapted to slidably interfit with the slots 39 and 39in the vertical leg or member I6 of the tool-holder. The clamping plates 43 are provided with rounded or other clamping grooves or opening 46 and the intermediate plate 45 is provided with a V-shaped or other groove 41, as in the preferred form of the invention, said rounded grooves and V-shaped groove co-operating with each other for producing a clamping action against the tool to be clamped'in the device.

The inner clamping plate is indicated at 48 and is provided with suitable openings for re- "ception of the screw-threaded shanks 40, nuts 49 also being provided to be screwed on said shanks 40 for tightening the elements making up the clamp per se into clamping action and in their predetermined adjusted vertical position as in the preferred-form of the invention.

* The vertical member I6 is also provided with a slot 50 centrally thereof loosely receiving the screw-threaded shank of a bolt 5! which is screwed to the intermediate clamping plate 45" to secure the properly adjusted verticalposition of the elements of the clamp per seas in adapted to be slidably'received within guideways 53form'ed in the vertical member I6. To obviate interference with the proper tightening or" untightening of the bolt 5|, the inner clamping plate 48 is provided with :a rounded groove 54 adapted to loosely receive the headof the bolt 5|. Various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

' The invention claimed. is:

1. A tool-holder comprising an upright member having a slot therein, supporting means extending through said slot, an outer clamping plate, an intermediate clamping plate and an inner clamping plate all carried by said supporting means whereby all of said clamping plates are movable simultaneously to secure a predetermined horizontal position thereof, means carried by one of said plates for holding the tool to be clamped, means extending through said upright member for non-rotatably holding all of said plates in a predetermined, adjusted vertical position and means for clamping said plates together and said tool in said adjusted and working position.

2. A tool-holder comprising a vertically extending member having a slot with a flat wall extending therethrough, an outer clamping plate and an inner clamping plate on opposite sides of said member, a head connected to one of said plates and having a flat side adapted to slidably engage the flat side of the aforesaid slot, said head non-rotatably carrying the other of said plates, means associated with one of said plates for receiving and holding the tool to be clamped and means for drawing the plates and tool into clamping position.

3. A tool-holder comprising a vertically extending member provided with a slot therein, an adjustable member slidable on said vertically extending member, one of said members having a groove registering with said slot and the other of said members being provided with a lug or projection slidably interfitting with said groove, means engaging said vertically extending member and said adjustable member for adjusting the horizontal position of the latter, outer and inner clamping plates on opposite sides of said vertically extending member, means extending through said slot and carrying said plates and means for forcing said plates towards the vertically extending member and into clamping position.

4. A tool-holder comprising a vertically extending member having a slot therein, supporting means extending through said slot, an outer clamping plate and an inner clamping plate carried respectively on said supporting means at opposite sides of said extending member and an adjustable member interposed between one of said plates and said vertically extending member for adjusting the horizontal position of said plates, said adjustable member being also carried by said supporting means, means extending through said vertically extending member and connected with said adjustable member for adjusting the position of said last-named'member and means also carried by said supporting means for moving said plates towards each other into clamping position.

5. A tool-holder comprising a vertically extending member provided with a'slot therein,

supporting means extending through said slot,

an adjustable plate slidable on said vertically extending member and also provided with a slot receiving said supporting means, one of said members having a groove registering with said slot and the other of said members being provided with a lug or projection slidably interfitting with said groove, means extending through said vertically extending member and connected with said adjustable plate for adjusting the horizontal position of the latter, outer and inner clamping plates on opposite sides of said vertically extending member and carried by said supporting means, tool-receiving means associated with said supporting means for receiving the tool to be clamped, tool-clamping means on said adjustable plate and tool-clamping means on one of said clamping plates, both said tool-clamping means being adapted to co-operate with each other to clamp a tool in clamping position and means for moving said clamping plates towards each other and holding them in clamping position.

6. A tool-holder comprising a vertically extending plate having a slot therein and With a groove in alignment with said slot, an outer clamping plate, a squared body integral with said plate and provided with means for receiving the tool to be clamped, a squared member integral with said body and slidably interfitting with said slot, a screw-threaded shank integral with said squared member, an outer clamping plate provided with an opening slidably receiving said squared extension, an intermediate clamping plate provided with a squared opening slidably receiving said squared body, a lug or projection on said intermediate plate slidably interfitting with the groove in said vertically extending member, means extending through said vertically extending member and connected to said intermediate plate for holding the same in any desired position of horizontal adjustment and a nut threading over said screw-threaded shank for drawing the aforesaid plates together and into clamping position.

7. A tool-holder comprising an upright main supporting plate having a slot therein, an outer clamping plate and an inner clamping plate on opposite sides of said main supporting plate, one of said plates extending transversely across said main supporting plate, means on one of said plates for holding the tool to be clamped, means connected to one of said inner and outer plates and projecting through said slot and carrying both of said plates, an intermediate clamping plate provided with a slot receiving said projecting means and positioned intermediate one of said inner and outer plates and said main supporting plate and freely slidable thereon whereby said outer, inner and intermediate plates are movable simultaneously in a vertical direction, and means carried by said projecting means for clamping said tool and drawing said inner, outer porting plate and into clamping position.

THOMAS B. 'I'IEFENBACHER. 

